The Lake Show isn't over yet!

We all know The Lakers have been struggling so far this season, however they've actually been playing better than many people predicted.
Adding two new pieces to a starting rotation isn't easy.  Adding two new players in the starting rotation at the point guard and center isn't easy.  Adding two new player in the starting rotation at the point guard and center position named Steve Nash and Dwight Howard is NOT easy!

Howard was recovering from back surgery, Kobe wasn't 100% fit for the start of the season and Nash was injured early on.  Taking that into consideration I would deem their .500 start (10 games as of Monday 19th November) quite good.

In addition, there are many promising signs.  It's no secret that teams often defend Kobe Bryant with multiple players but a few things have caught my attention over the last few Laker games.

Against the Suns there was one play in-particular which caught my eye; an alley-oop to Howard.  If you watch the play carefully you can see that Kobe has 3 player defending him as he comes off of the pick and roll with Gasol. 

Kobe being guarded / circled by 3 players as he comes off the pick and roll!

 

Additionally Scola sags off of the pick and roll to cover Howard to prevent a pass into the post (this consequently allowed Bryant to come off the screen un-guarded).  The interesting thing about this is what motivated the defence to act in such a way, and the answer is fear! 

With Kobe, Gasol and Howard on the floor, teams are often confused as when to double team and help out on defence.  As one commentator said when talking about the 2008 Boston Celtics "it's impossible to double team 3 players."  This is also true for the Lakers! (soon to be 4 players when Nash returns)

Another positive sign is Kobe's triple double in Sunday night's game against the rockets.  In Kobe's 16 year career he has 'only' managed to rack up 18 triple doubles.  I say only because many people (including myself) feel that for a player of his quality, combined with the players which he has been fortunate to play with over his career *cough* Shaq, Bynum, Gasol *cough*, this number should be a lot higher!  Anyway, back to the point, Kobe dropped a triple double which shows he is PASSING THE BALL!  Why is he passing the ball? Because Howard and Gasol are wide open, literally WIDE open!

List of the all time triple double leaders, taken from Wikipedia

Now some fans may be screaming "well why didn't he do this when Shaq was in town?"  Kobe has matured a lot since the 2004 finals (which many blame the loss on Bryant for not passing enough) and I think he realises that time is ticking away and that this may be his last / only chance to win that 6th championship (all hail the Michael Jordan comparisons…maybe I should start writing that blogpost now!)

But the point remains, the Lakers are improving greatly.  Oh, and by the way all of this is happening while they assign a new head-coach in the form of Mike Antoni (he doesn't coach D so I refuse to put it in his name).  Come playoff time the Lakers, if healthy, are going to be a force, but then I suppose you knew that all along!

Mike Brown out; D'Antoni in!

So the Lakers had recently gotten rid of head coach Mike Brown.  I think the majority of people would agree when I say *LeBron voice*: 'it's about damn time'.  It's no secret that many of Mike Brown's coaching methods were questionable. (Remember him putting in Howard against the Pistons when the Lakers were up by 20.). In addition his continuous use of the Princeton offense due criticism from many NBA fans and broadcasters; most noticeably Charles Barkley.

Nothing happens in L.A without the permission of Kobe 'assistant coach' Bryant and many feel that his 'death stare' to Mike Brown at the end of the Jazz game was a contributing factor.  It's not the first time that Kobe had been displeased at a coach, so to say that his lone stare is the reason for the Lakers head office taking the action they did is a bit shallow. None the less, it does provide for a bit of humour. 

I think firing Mike Brown was a bit premature considering only 5 games have been played but I suppose it is better to sort the wrong out before it gets too late.

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It's official, Mike D'Antoni; former coach of the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns is now coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.  I think everyone's initial reaction is "WOW, why not Phil."  According to sources (I sound like Chris Broussard now don't I) Jackson was asking for "too much."  As we all know Jackson retired predominantly because of health issues.  He requested not having to travel to certain away games, as well as hiring new staff including Scottie Pippen and total roster control (freedom to trade who he wanted etc).  In my opinion if someone has 11 rings as a coach and 5 rings in 12 years when they ask for something YOU GIVE IT TO THEM!  I understand that at the end of the day basketball is a business however can you put a price on championships? (Well yes, you can *cough* $95M roster that won the Lakers a championship in 2010 - but that's not the point!)

Mike D'Antoini, newly appointed
coach of the Lakers.

I know many people are wondering "what about the triangle offense?"  The triangle offense is somewhat over-talked about.  It's a long time since the early 2000s and the Lakers have moved further and further away from it.  That's not to say that they won't run it, but dont' expect to see it as often as other offences.  If things breakdown (eg down by 15 in the 3rd or 4th quarter) THEN you'll see it being executed.  But apart from that we can look forward to what Mike D'Antoni has to offer the Lakers.

On a side-note I hope he doesn't force the "7 seconds or less offense" like he did in Phoenix.  If he does you may well see another blog post about a new head coach for the Lakers very soon!